How do you view Church? For many people Church, not unlike watching sport, is an opportunity to watch how the paid professionals do it. Perhaps many of us see it as the religious version of watching a ‘good show’ on the TV.
Strangely enough, the Bible sees things very differently. In fact it is adamant, that Christianity is a non-spectator sport. In the book of Ephesians Paul writes ‘to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift’. This means that everybody has received something from the Lord- a talent, an ability, a way of serving, which is unique to them. It is only in this way that a Church can be built up through every believer playing their part and serving the Lord with their God- given talent.
This tells us two truths;
1) Amazing as it may seem, every believer is a gospel minister.
2) The primary role of Church leaders is to equip their members to fulfil their ministries in their particular contexts.
Nothing could be more harmful to Christianity than the completely unbiblical idea that ‘leaders’ are the special ones who are to do all the ministry. More crazy still is the thought that ‘clergy’ (a word we do not find in the Bible) are closer to God than the laity (another word not found in the Bible). In truth the Church of Jesus Christ can only advance when its people ALL appreciate their value to God and roll up their sleeves to make Jesus better known in their community.
How is your ministry going?
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